Enclosure having detachable panel assembly

ABSTRACT

An exemplary enclosure includes a box and a panel assembly mounted to the box. The panel assembly includes a panel, a locking module and a retention module mounted on two opposite sides of the panel. The retention module has fixing portions engaging with a first side of the box. The locking module includes a bracket fixed to the panel and a cover slidably connected to the bracket. The cover includes securing portions. The cover is movable relative to the bracket between a locked position in which the securing portions engage with an opposite second side of the bracket and a released position in which the securing portions are away from the opposite second side of the bracket.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to enclosures such as electronic device enclosures, and more particularly, to an enclosure with a panel assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

Computers have enclosures for receiving and protecting electronic components. In some kinds of computers such as servers or workstations, certain of the electronic components are required to be maintained, repaired or replaced after operation of the computer for a long period. In order to access the electronic components, the enclosures generally incorporate detachable panels. By loosening screws threadedly engaged in a panel, the panel can be detached from the enclosure to expose the electronic components inside the enclosure. However, the detachment of the panel from the enclosure is inconvenient and time-consuming.

What is needed, therefore, is an enclosure having a panel assembly which can overcome the limitations described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a panel assembly of an enclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows the panel assembly of FIG. 1 fully assembled, and a box of the enclosure positioned above the panel assembly.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, enlarged view of a locking module of the panel assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a retention module of the panel assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of circled part V of FIG. 2 delineated with broken lines.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of circled part VI of FIG. 3 delineated with broken lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, an enclosure 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The enclosure 60 includes a box 70 and a panel assembly 100 mounted to the box 70.

The box 70 is rectangular and has an opening (not shown) defined in a bottom. A plurality of electronic components (not shown), such as one or more central processing units, one or more hard disk drives, and one or more printed circuit boards, are received in the box 70.

The panel assembly 100 includes a panel 10, a locking module 30 connected to a rear side of the panel 10, a retention module 40 connected to a front side of the panel 10, and a reinforcing plate 20 fixed on a right side of the panel 10.

The panel 10 is made of a single piece of metal such as aluminum. The panel 10 includes a board 16, and two arms 14 respectively formed at front and rear sides of the board 16. The board 16 defines a multiplicity of through holes 101 therein, for ispersing heat in the box 70 to the air outside the box 70. Two openings 12 are defined in the board 16 adjacent to the rear side of the board 16. A flange 11 is bent upwardly and vertically from a left side of the board 16. The two arms 14 are symmetrical with each other. Each of the arms 14 defines a rectangular-like window 140 therein. A baffle plate 141 is formed on a left side of each arm 14. The baffle plate 141 has a height larger than that of the flange 11. The two baffle plates 141 are respectively connected to opposite ends of the flange 11. The baffle plates 141 and the flange 11 cooperatively act as a protecting structure, for preventing the fingers of an operator from extending into gaps between the panel 10 and the box 70. A plurality of seats 51 are formed on the panel 10 for engagingly receiving screws 50 threaded therein. In the present embodiment, the seats 51 are in the form of short posts or collars.

Also referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the locking module 30 includes a beam 31, a bracket 32 connected to the beam 31, a cover 34 connected to the bracket 32, a confining element 33 inserted in the bracket 32, and a plurality of screws 35 mounting the cover 34 to the bracket 32. The beam 31 is elongated, and has two opposite ends protruding frontward to form two legs 311. The beam 31 includes three small bumps 312 protruding upwardly from a top face thereof, and three buckles 3120 are formed in the bumps 312, respectively. Each buckle 3120 has a pair of poles 3122 protruding horizontally and frontward from a corresponding bump 312. The two poles 3122 are spaced from each other by a gap 3124, and are symmetrical. A main body 3126 of each pole 3122 has a segment-shaped transverse cross-section. Thus, the gap 3124 defines a rectangular transverse cross-section, and has a uniform width. A front end of each pole 3122 has a tapered protrusion 3128 extending from the main body 3126. The protrusion 3128 has a curved outer surface, and gradually tapers in a direction away from the corresponding bump 312. The protrusion 3128 thereby includes a step portion 3129 a rear end thereof, the step portion 3129 located approximately at a middle of the pole 3122. The protrusions 3128 of the two poles 3122 are symmetrical, and extend away from the corresponding main bodies 3126 of the poles 3122 in opposite directions. ith the above-described configuration, when the protrusions 3128 of the two spaced poles 3122 are pressed towards each other, the buckle 3120 elastically deforms and is able to snap-fit onto the cover 34 (see below).

The bracket 32 includes a base 321, and a supporting plate 320 formed on a front side of the base 321. The base 321 defines a window 323 adjacent to a rear side thereof. The window 323 of the bracket 32 has a size smaller than the window 140 of the panel 10. The bracket 32 forms two opposite sidewalls 3231 at a front side and a rear side of the window 323, respectively. The two sidewalls 3231 are perpendicular to the base 321. Three L-shaped slots 322 are defined in a front one of the sidewalls 3231 and the base 321, where the front sidewall 3231 and the base 321 join each other. Each slot 322 has an upper portion defined in the front sidewall 3231, and a lower portion defined in the base 321. Each slot 322 is used to receive a corresponding bump 312 of the beam 31 therein. The buckles 3120 are located above the base 321 after the three bumps 312 are received in the slots 322, respectively. Each bump 312 has a front-to-rear length less than that of the lower portion of a corresponding slot 322, so that the bump 312 can move within the slot 322 along rear-to-front and front-to-rear directions. Two spaced blocks 3216 protrude upwardly from the front side of the base 321. Each block 3216 has a height similar to that of each sidewall 3231.

A plurality of through holes 3215 are defined adjacent to the front side of the base 321, for extending corresponding screws 50 through the base 321. The through holes 3215 are aligned with corresponding seats 51 formed on the board 16 of the panel 10. The corresponding screws 50 extend through the through holes 3215 and engage in the seats 51 to thereby secure the bracket 32 to the panel 10. The base 321 defines two spaced grooves 3210 in a bottom face thereof, corresponding to the two legs 311 of the beam 31, respectively. The two grooves 3210 can respectively receive the two legs 311 of the beam 31 to provide guidance for movement of the beam 31 relative to the bracket 32. A pair of end walls 324 are formed upwardly on left and right sides of the base 321, respectively. The two sidewalls 3231 are connected to the two end walls 324. Each end wall 324 forms a plurality of vertical fins 3240 at an outer side thereof, with the fins 3240 being parallel to each other. Two spaced ribs 3233 are formed in the window 323, near the end walls 324. Each rib 3233 interconnects the two sidewalls 3231. That is, the ribs 3233 are perpendicular to the sidewalls 3231, and are parallel to the base 321. Each rib 3233 defines a pair of circular bores 325 in two opposite ends thereof, for extending the screws 35 therein.

The supporting plate 320 extends from the front side of the base 321 between the two blocks 3216. In this embodiment, the supporting plate 320 is in the form of a tongue extending from the base 321. The supporting plate 320 has a front end fixed on the panel 10 by a corresponding screw 50. The supporting plate 320 defines two openings 3201 aligned with the two openings 12 of the panel 10, respectively. The confining element 33 includes a rotation portion 332, and a lever 330 fixed on a top end of the rotation portion 332. The rotation portion 332 extends into the rear ones of the openings 12, 3201 of the panel 10 and bracket 320. The rotation portion 332 defines an operation slot (not visible) in a bottom face thereof. The operator may insert the end of a key or another suitable tool (not shown) into the operation slot, and thereby rotate the rotation portion 332 to drive the lever 330 to rotate within a particular angular range (see below).

Also referring to FIG. 5, the cover 34 includes a main plate 340, and a flange 342 extending downwardly and perpendicularly from a front side of the main plate 340. The main plate 340 defines a window 343 corresponding to the window 323 of the bracket 32. The main plate 340 also defines two elongated guiding slots 345, in each of left and right sides thereof. Each guiding slot 345 is aligned with a corresponding bore 325 of the bracket 32. Each guiding slot 345 has a width identical to a diameter of the bore 325, and a length larger than the diameter of the bore 325. Each screw 35 extends through a corresponding guiding slot 345 into the corresponding bore 325, thereby assembling the cover 34 on the bracket 32. A shank 350 of each screw 35 has a diameter smaller than the width of the guiding slot 345 of the cover 34. When the locking module 30 is assembled, the cover 34 can slide relative to the bracket 32 along the rear-to-front direction or the front-to-rear direction until the shanks 350 of the screws 35 press against front or rear ends of the guiding slots 345.

The main plate 340 forms a plurality of securing portions 341 at a rear side thereof, for engaging with corresponding latching structures (e.g., detents; not visible) of the box 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing portions 341 are in the form of protrusions. The flange 342 is located behind the blocks 3216 of the bracket 32. The flange 342 forms two posts 346 protruding frontward towards the blocks 3216 of the bracket 32, respectively. Each post 346 has a spring 3460 coiled thereon. The spring 3460 is compressed between the flange 342 and a corresponding block 3216 for producing a resilient force to push the cover 34 rearward away from the blocks 3216. The flange 342 defines a plurality of small holes 3421. The flange 342 also defines three through holes 3420 corresponding to the three buckles 3120 of the beam 31. The buckles 3120 of the beam 31 are inserted into the through holes 3420 and snap-fitted onto and locked with the flange 342. During insertion of the buckles 3120 into the through holes 3420 of the flange 342, the two protrusions 3128 of each buckle 3120 are pressed to move towards each other by an inner circumferential periphery of a corresponding through hole 3420. Thus, the protrusions 3128 of the buckles 3120 are interferingly inserted through the through holes 3420. After the protrusions 3124 of the buckles 3120 wholly extend out of the through holes 3420, the step portions 3129 of the buckles 3120 abut against a rear face of the flange 342 of the cover 34, thereby preventing the buckles 3120 from sliding out from the through holes 3420 of the flange 342. Thus, the beam 31 is fixed to the cover 34, and is movable in unison with the cover 34 relative to the bracket 32.

The lever 330 of the confining element 33 has an end fixed to the top end of the rotation portion 332, and an opposite free end. The lever 330 can be rotated to a position where the free end of the lever 330 abuts against the flange 342 of the cover 34, or another position where the free end of the lever 330 points away from the flange 342 of the cover 34. When the lever 330 abuts against the flange 342 of the cover 34, the cover 34 is fixed in a locked status, in which the shanks 350 of the screws 35 abut against the rear ends of the guiding slots 345. When the lever 330 is farthest away from the flange 342 of the cover 34, the cover 34 is in a released status, in which the cover 34 is slidable relative to the bracket 32.

Also referring to FIG. 4, the retention module 40 includes a frame 42 defining a window 43 therein. The window 43 has a size and a shape similar to that of the window 140 of the panel 10. The frame 42 has two end walls 44 formed upwardly at left and right sides of the window 43. Each end wall 44 forms a plurality of vertical fins 440 at an outer side thereof, with the fins 440 being parallel to each other. A plurality of corresponding screws 50 extend through the frame 42 into corresponding seats 51 of the panel 10, to secure the retention module 40 on the panel 10. The retention module 40 forms a plurality of fixing portions 41 at a front side thereof, for engaging with corresponding latching structures (e.g., detents; not visible) of the box 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing portions 41 are in the form of parallel plates. The panel assembly 100 can be fixed to the box 70 by locking the fixing portions 41 of the retention module 40 and the securing portions 341 of the locking module 30 with the corresponding latching structures of the box 70.

The reinforcing plate 20 is strip-shaped. Two opposite ends of the reinforcing plate 20 are fixed to the retention module 40 and the locking module 30 through two corresponding screws 50, and middle parts of the reinforcing plate 20 are fixed to the board 16 of the panel 10 through two corresponding screws 50. The reinforcing plate 20 can raise the strength of the panel assembly 100.

When access to the electronic components in the enclosure 60 is required, the confining element 33 is firstly rotated by the key or other tool, thereby driving the lever 330 to rotate away from the flange 342 of the cover 34 of the locking module 30. The cover 34 together with the beam 31 is then pushed to move towards the retention module 40, until the securing portions 341 of the cover 34 are detached from the corresponding side of the box 70. The locking module 30 is thus detached from the box 70. Finally, the retention module 40 is detached from an opposite side of the box 70. Thus, the whole panel assembly 100 is detached from the box 70 to expose the electronic components in the box 70. After replacement, repair or maintenance of the electronic components, the retention module 40 is firstly mounted to the opposite side of the box 70. The locking module 30 is then pre-mounted to the corresponding side of the box 70. This is done by pushing the cover 34 together with the beam 31 to move towards the retention module 40 so that the locking module 30 can enter the opening of the box 70. In this process, the springs 3460 are elastically compressed. Once the locking module 30 has entered the opening of the box 70, the securing portions 341 of the cover 34 engage with the corresponding latching structures of the box 70 under resilient restoring force produced by the springs 3460. The rotation portion 332 is then rotated, to drive the lever 330 to rotate and abut against the flange 342 of the cover 34, thereby further fixing the securing portions 341 to the corresponding latching structures of the box 70.

The panel assembly 100 of the enclosure 60 can be easily attached to or detached from the box 70. Thus the replacement, maintenance or repair of the electronic components inside the enclosure 60 is convenient and can save much time.

It is believed that the present disclosure and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments. 

1. An enclosure comprising: a box; and a panel assembly removably attachable to the box, the panel assembly comprising: a panel; and a locking module and a retention module mounted to two opposite sides of the panel, the retention module comprising a fixing portion engagable with a first side of the box, the locking module comprising a bracket fixed on the panel, and a cover slidably connected to the bracket, the cover comprising a securing portion, the cover being slidable relative to the bracket between a locked position in which the securing portion is engaged with an opposite second side of the box and a released position in which the securing portion is disengaged from the second side of the box.
 2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the locking module comprises a lever rotatable relative to the bracket, the lever pressing against the cover when the cover is in the locked position and the lever pointing away from the cover when the cover is in the released position.
 3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a main plate defining a guiding slot, a fastener extending through the guiding slot into the bracket.
 4. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the guiding slot has a length larger than a diameter of a portion of the fastener extending through the guiding slot.
 5. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the fastener is slidable within the guiding slot relative to the cover when the cover is in the released position.
 6. The enclosure of claim 5, wherein the locking module comprises an elastically deformable element compressed between the cover and the bracket to push the cover in a direction towards the second side of the box.
 7. The enclosure of claim 6, wherein the bracket comprises a base and a block protruding from the base corresponding to the elastically deformable element, and the cover further comprises a flange extending from the main plate, the elastically deformable element being sandwiched between the flange of the cover and the block of the bracket.
 8. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the cover further comprises a post extending from the flange towards the block, the elastically deformable element being a spring coiled around the post.
 9. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the flange extends downwardly from the main plate, and the block extends upwardly from the base.
 10. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the bracket further comprises a supporting plate extending from the base, the supporting plate defining an opening therein.
 11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the supporting plate is a tongue protruding from the base.
 12. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the locking module comprises a confining element having a rotation portion extending through the opening of the supporting plate, the lever being connected to an end of the rotation portion.
 13. The enclosure of claim 12, wherein the rotation portion of the confining element is rotatable within the opening of the supporting plate.
 14. The enclosure of claim 12, wherein the panel defines an opening aligned with the opening of the supporting plate of the bracket, the rotation portion of the confining element being rotatably engaged in the opening of the panel.
 15. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the base of the bracket defines a window, and the bracket forms a pair of sidewalls at two opposite sides of the window and a rib interconnecting the two sidewalls, the fastener extending into and fixed in the rib of the bracket.
 16. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the locking module further comprises a beam connected to the bracket, the beam being fixed to the cover and movable in unison with the cover relative to the bracket.
 17. The enclosure of claim 16, wherein the beam comprises a bump and a buckle protruding from the bump, the buckle extending through and engaged with the flange of the cover to lock the beam with the cover.
 18. The enclosure of claim 17, wherein the bracket defines a slot at a joint of one of the sidewalls and the base, the bump of the beam being received in the slot.
 19. The enclosure of claim 18, wherein the slot comprises an upper portion defined in the sidewall and a lower portion defined in the base.
 20. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the panel and the cover each define a window corresponding to the window of the bracket. 